When the gloves come off: Formula One’s greatest rivalries

Juan Manuel Fangio vs. Stirling Moss

One of the more respectful rivalries on this list. Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio got along well but had some intense competition during the 1950s.

LAT Photographic

James Hunt vs. Niki Lauda

The rivalry between these two helped the sport grow as they fought for the title throughout the controversial 1976 season.

LAT Photographic

Nigel Mansell vs. Nelson Piquet

Mansell and Piquet were teammates at Williams during the 1986-1987 season and the competition between them was fierce. While Piquet took the title in 1987, one of the most memorable moments of the season was when Mansell passed him during the 1987 British GP.

LAT Photographic

Alain Prost vs. Ayrton Senna

Perhaps the best-documented rivalry in the sport, Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna became teammates at McLaren in 1988 and the feud between them began. The two would collide while fighting for the championship in 1989 and 1990.

AFP/Getty ImagesToshifumi Kitamura

Damon Hill vs. Michael Schumacher

Between 1994 and 1995, Hill and Schumacher collided three times on the track with both cars retiring on all three occasions. While Schumacher won both titles, Hill would emerge triumphant in 1996 after the German switched to Ferrari.

LAT Photographic

Michael Schumacher vs. Jacques Villeneuve

Schumacher again found himself at odds with a Williams driver in 1997, but this time it was Villeneuve who would win the title after Schumacher collided with him in Jerez. Schumacher was out and disqualified from the title.

LAT Photographic

Mika Hakkinen vs. Michael Schumacher

Of all the rivals Schumacher had, he states that Finnish driver Mika Hakkinen, who he fought against for the title from 1998-2001, was the one he most respected.

LAT PhotographicSteve Tee

Sebastian Vettel vs. Mark Webber

Vettel and Webber didn’t get along too well during their time at Red Bull together. Here they’re seen colliding during the 2010 Turkish GP. Vettel would rebound to win the championship as well as the following three titles.

Alberto Crippa

Lewis Hamilton vs. Nico Rosberg

The Mercedes F1 team had the best car on the grid in 2014, and the championship fight between teammates Hamilton and Rosberg came to a climax in Spa when the two made contact. Hamilton would still win the championship in 2014 and 2015 while Rosberg won it in 2016 and then retired.